Today many of us are looking back and remembering the deaths of over 3000 people: We are looking back and remembering the citizen heroes who, by fighting back and dying in a field of wreckage, prevented the further loss of unimaginable numbers and devastation.

Perhaps in the days that follow this I will actually review those tragic images—I certainly haven’t forgotten them or that surreal day.

But today I will not reiterate here what so many others are able to do in more personal terms or in more gripping commentary. Instead, I’d like to focus on what has become of us since then—and more particularly—what has become of us recently. And I will do this by merely simplifying the two opposing views of what our country is, and then follow-up that by quoting a man who recognized the greatness to which the United States of American used to aspire.

Now, about those two opposing views...

My very good friend Larry Farr recently sent me the text of a news feature entitled Bargaining with Thieves by Bojidar Marinov.

In this excellent article the writer recalls being in Eastern Europe in 1989: It seems that when the morally justified citizens rose up against the communist political party for taking their lives, liberty and property, the communists called the protestors "extremists” that “refuse to come to an agreement," didn't want "constructive dialog, " wore "swastikas and brown shirts" and were "nothing less than fascists.”

Wow. That's pretty brazen talk for communists.

But Bojidar's point was that he is seeing the same thing happen here in America when the majority of Americans are rebelling against the current administration (and our arrogant, elected representatives).

This truly insightful article by someone who knows of what he speaks got me to thinking. The problem, when you get down to brass tacks, is one of fundamental beliefs.

Regardless of whether you have been conditioned by circumstance of poverty (needs), wealth (guilt), political office (power), ignorance (you don't know history) or stupidity (you think you are better than history), you will have one of two mindsets.

You either believe someone else should help and/or owe you OR you think you yourself is (are?) the only person responsible to help and/or owe you. If it's the former, then you promote government that takes other people's money and freedom on your behalf. If it's the later, you're scared to death of people promoting the former.

CLICK HERE FOR BARGAINING WITH THIEVES BY BOJIDAR MARINOV

(For the second-half of this previous blog commentary, please see the page, MELTON FRIEDMAN)